This booklet started out in response to finding a second photo of Old
Willesden station in Acton Lane (closed in 1866). The other missing stations
are 'Willesden Junction - Main Line', 'Kensal Green & Harlesden',
'Harrow Road', 'Dudding Hill', and the most obscure, 'Royal Show Ground'.
Not only for anoraks!

'The Quiet Waters By,' originally written in 1985, comprises notes and
memories about the canal stimulated by many strolls along the Grand Union
Canal in the Willesden area. This revision is considerably larger than
previous versions and brings the story up to date.

This updated and enlarged edition of one of our best-selling booklets
now includes O.C.Robson's plans for the Park which were presented to the
Willesden Local Board on 3/1/1893. It is interesting to see how much of
his vision was realised.

Brent is not famous for its waterways, yet, in varying degrees, they
have been important to the development and prosperity of the area. The
main natural rivers are; the Brent and its tributaries, the Wealdstone
Brook, the Wembley Brook, and the Mitchell Brook; the Kilburn River; and
a multitude of small streams that feed them. The artificial waterways
comprise the Grand Junction Canal (renamed the Grand Union Canal in 1929
following amalgamations), and its feeder from the Brent Reservoir. The
route of each waterway is described and historical notes included.

This booklet originated through Juliette's wish to record some of the
old images of Gladstone Park she had collected over the years. Initially
there was no intention to consider the history of Dollis Hill House, but
residence and park are linked so closely that it is difficult to separate
their histories. It soon became obvious that there is enough historical
material to produce a tome of biblical proportions. This account is a
mixed selection of items to present a general overview.

Much of the research work for this booklet was carried out to support
an exhibition on the Research Station at the Grange Museum Neasden. It
gathers together of primary and secondary references to the Post Office
Research Station at Dollis Hill where the author worked from 1954 to 1977,
and its now famous underground bunker. The effect of the establishment
on technical innovation in electronics and related topics was unsurpassed
in Brent and, for that matter, in the country. No attempt has been made
to produce a technical history - a vast undertaking which needs attention,
but one which will have to await a suitable author. As a local landmark,
no Brent edifice has a more prominent site, and the quality of the main
block is high, as were most public buildings of the time. The building
is locally listed and has recently been fairly sensitively developed,
so future generations may also enjoy the sight of the 'college on the
hill with the green dome'

This booklet contrasts the schooling and living conditions of the WLHS
Patron and Chairman. Gwen was brought up in the 1920's in a typical middle-class
background. Her family was moderately wealthy, and provided a good Kilburn
environment and private schooling. She left the area to go to University
at the beginning of the War (1939). Cliff, by contrast, came from a proud
hard working family who never had much money but tried to 'do the best
for their son'. Soon after Gwen left Kilburn for her degree studies, Cliff
started at a local community school. It was wartime. The intention of
the booklet is to record the two different Willesden lifestyles from the
first half of the 20th century, particularly in terms of living environments
and education.

Amos Beeson (1859-1938) was a well known figure in Harlesden for more
than 70 years, and his family hardware business a local institution for
even longer. In his later years around 1930, Amos gave lectures on the
Harlesden of his youth under titles such as "Harlesden Green as it
was 60 years ago." These talks were illustrated by slides of photographs
and of his own watercolour paintings. To assist his memory he wrote notebooks
containing outlines of the talks. Although these were scrappy and not
intended to be read by others, they are of interest to local historians,
since there are not many first hand descriptive accounts of Harlesden
in the 1870's. They describe a tour of Harlesden and the surrounding area,
starting at Kensal Green, up the Harrow Road to Harlesden Green, the Green
itself, diversions to Willesden Junction, along Acton Lane to where Harlesden
station now stands, then back along the Harrow Road as far as Stonebridge.
Cliff Wadsworth has edited the text, and added notes on the Beeson family.

This study commenced through interest in O.Claude Robson, the Willesden
Surveyor from 1875 to 1918, and his battles to improve the district roads.
Thus this Harrow Road story has a strong Willesden bias.
Although Willesden has a half share in part of Roman Watling Street on
its eastern border, until the coming of the North Circular Road in the
1920's/30's, Harrow Road was the borough's main highway. The booklet covers
the origins of the 10-mile road, the benefits of the large bequest by
John Lyon (founder of Harrow School), its years as a turnpike road, and
a remarkable early plan for a major realignment of the highway. Some of
the mysteries of crossing the Brent are explored.

This booklet covers Music Halls, Theatres, and Cinemas of Willesden and
environs, some planned but not realised, others reaching the brick and
mortar stage. One difficulty in presenting this handbook is the number
of times theatres were renamed in their operational life. Sometimes they
boasted more than one title at a time!

To mark the special '2000' occasion it was felt that publishing a booklet
describing the old borough boundary, to be followed by walks around it,
would make a suitable project for a local history society. Ten WLHS members
have contributed in describing the Willesden boundary today with notes
on items of historical interest.

Although Willesden has no very old inns in original condition, the history
of pubs in the borough is long. All our oldest hostelries have been rebuilt,
some several times, or demolished. The most ancient still standing date
from the early or mid-19th century. It seemed a good time to publish a
reference booklet on our old pubs, for two reasons. In the 1980's our
licensing laws were relaxed to such an extent that new pubs and wine bars
appeared in every major street. These new establishments (which are not
included) have had a major effect on the older traditional pubs. Some
of the latter, like the Spotted Dog, Neasden, the Pantiles, St.Raphael's,
the Coach & Horses, Stonebridge, the Orange Tree, Stonebridge, the
Green Man, Harlesden, and the White Horse, Church End, have already closed,
and others are threatened. Another reason is that long-standing pub signs
are being changed without any respect for their history, and sometimes
to names that are ridiculous. A comprehensive index is included, and each
pub described under the name it has borne longest.

This companion volume to the previously published 'Willesden' booklet
is in the same style. Thirty-eight pubs are included. The oldest pub sites,
not surprisingly, are along the oldest roads; the Swan and Black Horse
on Harrow Road, the Kings Arms and Red Lion on Edgware Road, the Chequers
and Plough on Ealing Road, the Plough on Kenton Road and the Mitre on
Watford Road. The Green Man on the top of Wembley Hill, although close
to the old Harrow Road is the exception to the rule. The Clutterbuck family
of Stanmore appear to have owned most of them at one time or another!

A few years ago a very successful reunion of residents of Lower Place
(a little known area of Willesden) was held. This booklet was produced
to contribute to the festivities. It describes the fag end of musical
evenings at the Grand Junction Arms in Acton Lane around the 1970's.

Vera Thompson has written the history of the local firm of Garnier &
Co. which, until recently, traded in Strode Road. The business has been
at the forefront of vitreous enamelling for more than 100 years, yet is
little known in Willesden. Vera should know what she is talking about
since she owned the Company from 1971 to 1991.

'F.A.Wood' by Cliff Wadsworth. A5 format, 36 pp, Price £3.00.

Frederick Augustus Wood (1822-1904) was one of Willesden's greatest historians
as well as a philanthropist and municipal worker of substance. He has
never before been honoured with a biography, but better late than never.
Wood lived in Willesden between 1866 and 1893, and spent the autumn of
his life in Somerset. In addition to the life story, (which was difficult
to research), the Wood Collection, all 150 volumes, has been examined
and a new contents list compiled.

This was written as a tribute to this talented WLHS member. Ken was known
to the widest audience through publication of local history works, particularly
the masterful 'Neasden: a Historical Study', but there were many other
strands woven into his interesting life. Certainly Willesden in general,
and Neasden in particular, never had a greater champion. The booklet includes
a description of the Ken Valentine Collection presented to Brent Archive,
and an interesting article by Ken on researching local history.

O.Claude Robson is not well known as a founder of modern Willesden, but
from the time the newly formed Willesden Local Board appointed him their
surveyor in 1875, until he retired in 1918, he carried out an enormous
amount of work for the district. His involvement in roadmaking, sewerage
and drainage, the fire brigade, and provision of parks, has left permanent
memorials to him. This quietly dynamic, gentlemanly, and hard working
man, and his grand works for Willesden, deserve to be recorded.

This guide to the old Willesden cemetery describes some of the interesting
people buried there. Burials have taken place at St.Mary's probably since
the 10th century, and certainly from the 13th century. St.Mary's churchyard,
if it is referred to at all, is usually recorded as the resting place
of writer Charles Reade, and highwayman Jack Shepherd. The former is certainly
one of the most famous people buried there, but, despite there still being
some believers, the latter's burial is not marked nor recorded. In 1865
the churchyard covered less than one acre. On the north side of the church
the boundary was where it is now, but on the east it extended further
into Neasden Lane enclosing the paved area where now is a public seat.
On the south side it ran behind the range of buildings which include the
Vestry Hall, Church Path being then simply a path across the churchyard.
On the west the boundary was along the path which now runs from the cemetery
gates towards the railway. In 1866, when the Acton Branch railway line
was being built, the local Burial Board bought an additional 4 acres of
ground from John Prout, enlarging the churchyard on the western side to
what it is today. This became known as the "New Section" and
opened in 1868. In the short time up to 1884, more than 4000 burials took
place in the consecrated part, and about 300 in the unconsecrated part.

Willesden has a long and reasonably well-documented past. But one thing
in short supply is the number of long-term residents of international
fame. George Furness, who described himself as a "contractor of public
works" is arguably one of Willesden's most famous residents.
He was born at Great Longstone, Derbyshire, on October 31st 1820, and
well established in his career before coming to London. His main profession
was as a contractor; one who estimates costs, bids for, and arranges finance
for civil engineering contracts, and if successful, engages and controls
the work force. To advance his growing reputation, he took offices in
Westminster, and, in 1856, bought Roundwood House, Willesden, where he
lived until his death in 1900.
At a time when international travel was not the easy experience it is
today, he travelled on business to Russia, Italy, France, and Brazil;
to some of these several times. His journeying in England was frequent.
Furness was a personal friend of Thomas Brassey, and worked with Sir John
Rennie, Joseph Locke, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and Sir Joseph Bazalgette.
Besides completing major contracts, he found time to be a director of
businesses, become a reliable and efficient builder, run a successful
brickworks, become one of the largest freeholders in Willesden, and to
lead in local government and church affairs.

Using such ecclesiastical records as still exist, this essay searches
for the truth about Willesden's late-medieval shrine and pilgrimage, abolished
in 1538. Much of what is commonly said on the subject is shown to be false
or unsubstantiated: the pilgrimage probably started after 1474, but was
certainly well established by 1500. The author quotes royal accounts to
show that Elizabeth of York, Queen of Henry VII, sent offerings to the
shrine more than once. He shows that it was Thomas Bilney's sermon at
Willesden in 1527 that led to the prominence given to the shrine and its
pilgrimage in the writings of More and Tyndale and to its continued citation
alongside Walsingham, Worcester, and Ipswich as late as 1563.
In an appendix it is demonstrated that a detailed description of the shrine
purporting to have been sent to Thomas Cromwell c.1537 was actually concocted
by an enthusiastic antiquarian in 1877, borrowing phrases and sentences
from genuine letters in British Cotton MSS to give verisimilitude.

The first substantial history of St.Mary's was published in 1970, and
resulted from a request by the then Vicar of St.Mary's, Rev.George Oakley,
to the Wembley History Society for such a document. It comprised "An
Historical Introduction", "The Fabric and Other Details"
"St.Mary's Memorial Brasses", "The Windows of St.Marys""The
Vicars of St.Mary's". In this update, chapters on the Organs, the
Bells, Blessed Mary of Willesden, a chronological Structural Development,
the Hatchments, the Ledger Stones, and the Wall Monuments, have been added.